The San Marino City Council held a public hearing on Nov. 8 to introduce an ordinance with the addition of a municipal code regarding development and design standards for multi-family residential development projects in the city’s Historical and Cultural Zone.
The Historical and Cultural Zone, which is located within the approximate 207-acre site operated by The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, was originally zoned for single-family dwellings in March. At that time, a separate ordinance permitted the inclusion of residential privileges for employees who work in San Marino.
In June, several amendments were adopted to the city’s zoning ordinance to address various housing laws mandated by the state on local jurisdictions in order to meet the needs of the statewide housing shortage — making way for the adoption of standards and objective design standards for multi-family residential development projects.
Through the city’s adopted housing element, The Huntington has been identified as a site to accommodate the city’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation requirement. However, while residential privileges for employees are permitted in the Historical and Cultural Zone, there are no projects currently underway on the property.
Because the site never had development standards or objective design standards to regulate housing projects, staff members prepared the proposed ordinance to establish them for potential multi-family projects in the Historical and Cultural Zone by adding Municipal Code Section 23.05.03.
“If adopted, Ordinance No. 0-23-1409 will establish development and design standards for multi-family residential development projects to ensure orderly development that will allow Huntington Library employee housing, while retaining to the extent possible the city’s residential community environment,” Community Development Director Isidro Figueroa told the Tribune.
Councilwoman Gretchen Shepherd Romey expressed optimism at the possibility of a project at The Huntington.
“I think it is positive for the city and positive for The Huntington. … I think it is very thoughtful and would bring people the ability to study there, work there and live there,” Shepherd Romey said.
The density of 20 units an acre identified in this ordinance is consistent with the city’s adopted housing element. The maximum building height for a multi-family residential building is 35 feet and no more than two stories to achieve maximum compatibility to mirror the surrounding residential community of each neighborhood district. The maximum Historical and Cultural Zone’s lot coverage of 60% is the common standard established for multi-family projects.
In September, the Planning Commission voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. PCR-23-13, recommending that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. O-23-1409 with revisions to correct formatting and numbering errors, as well as incorporate a few definitions.
Since then, staff members have put together the proposed objective design standards by referencing the city’s existing residential and commercial design guidelines, the recently adopted multi-family objective design standards, examples from other California cities, The Huntington’s built-in environment and input from the various city departments, including the city attorney’s office.
Examples of the proposed site design standards include requirements for building siting, building design, parking and requiring circulation patterns consistent with city standards.
Figueroa discussed the draft ordinance and its proposed architectural standards that require articulation in rooflines and wall planes, a variety of materials, minimum illumination levels, landscaping requirements and minimum square footage of outdoor space.
The site design portion of the proposed ordinance identifies the site planning and orientation requirements for multi-family projects that would keep The Huntington’s architectural aesthetic and character, as well as the city’s, if a project were to be established.
Following questions from the Council, staff was directed to clarify language proposed in the ordinance by defining the project site, making sure that the objective standards tied to “lot size” or the “entire lot” is changed to “project site,” and making clear that “turf” does not equal “artificial turf.”
The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled to be brought back to Council for adoption on Dec. 13.
First published in the Nov. 23 issue of the San Marino Tribune
